Save the Internet Act of 2019

Save the Internet Act of 2019

This bill updates the regulatory framework for broadband access. Specifically, the bill repeals a 2017 order adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that classifies broadband internet access service as an information service, therefore placing it under Federal Trade Commission authority. The order also expands the public transparency rules and preempts local and state laws that conflict with the regulatory framework.

The bill restores a 2015 FCC order, which classifies both mobile and fixed broadband internet access services as telecommunications services, therefore placing the services under FCC authority. Additionally, the bill would create a general conduct standard and restore regulations, including those that prohibit blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization.

The bill establishes an exception for small businesses to certain transparency requirements relating to performance characteristics and network practices, and it directs the FCC to engage with tribal stakeholders regarding broadband access service challenges on tribal lands.

Among other reports, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on

• the internet ecosystem,
• the importance of open internet rules to vulnerable communities,
• broadband internet access service competition,
• high-speed infrastructure,
• challenges to accurate broadband mapping, and
• the benefits of stand-alone broadband.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1644 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1644

   To restore the open internet order of the Federal Communications 
                              Commission.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 2019

  Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania (for himself, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. 
 Pallone, Mr. Welch, Mr. Tonko, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Eshoo, 
   Mr. Pappas, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Beyer, Mr. Phillips, Mr. 
    Sarbanes, Mrs. Davis of California, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Wild, Ms. 
Gabbard, Ms. Porter, Mr. Neal, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Cisneros, 
  Ms. Moore, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Espaillat, Ms. Pingree, Mr. 
  Garamendi, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Higgins of New York, Mrs. Dingell, Mrs. 
 Trahan, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Engel, Ms. DelBene, Ms. Waters, 
Ms. Omar, Ms. DeGette, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Rose of New York, Mr. Vela, 
   Mrs. Axne, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Kim, Mr. 
Sires, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Nadler, 
 Mr. Malinowski, Ms. Haaland, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Soto, Mrs. Carolyn B. 
 Maloney of New York, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Ryan, 
Mr. Pascrell, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Ms. 
Wilson of Florida, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Blumenauer, 
    Ms. Matsui, Mr. Golden, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. 
 Grijalva, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Case, Mr. Sean Patrick 
Maloney of New York, Mrs. Lowey, Ms. Lofgren, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mrs. 
    Lawrence, Mr. McEachin, Ms. Underwood, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. 
    Swalwell of California, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Ms. Hill of 
    California, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Crist, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Sablan, Mr. 
McGovern, Ms. Shalala, Mr. Delgado, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Levin of Michigan, 
  Mr. Vargas, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Harder of California, Mr. 
Evans, Mr. Levin of California, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Mr. Rouda, 
   Mr. Lamb, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Cox of California, Ms. Dean, Mr. 
 Raskin, Ms. Meng, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Norton, Mr. Loebsack, Ms. Scanlon, 
Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Keating, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, 
Mr. Rush, Ms. Speier, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Jeffries, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Scott 
  of Virginia, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Trone, Mr. Yarmuth, Mr. Connolly, Ms. 
Kuster of New Hampshire, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Takano, 
and Mr. Hoyer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To restore the open internet order of the Federal Communications 
                              Commission.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Save the Internet Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF OPEN INTERNET ORDER.

    (a) Repeal of Rule.--
            (1) In general.--The Declaratory Ruling, Report and Order, 
        and Order in the matter of restoring internet freedom that was 
        adopted by the Commission on December 14, 2017 (FCC 17-166), 
        shall have no force or effect.
            (2) Prohibition on reissued rule or new rule.--The 
        Declaratory Ruling, Report and Order, and Order described in 
        paragraph (1) may not be reissued in substantially the same 
        form, and a new rule that is substantially the same as such 
        Declaratory Ruling, Report and Order, and Order may not be 
        issued, unless the reissued or new rule is specifically 
        authorized by a law enacted after the date of the enactment of 
        this Act.
    (b) Restoration of Repealed and Amended Rules.--The following are 
restored as in effect on January 19, 2017:
            (1) The Report and Order on Remand, Declaratory Ruling, and 
        Order in the matter of protecting and promoting the open 
        internet that was adopted by the Commission on February 26, 
        2015 (FCC 15-24).
            (2) Part 8 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations.
            (3) Any other rule of the Commission that was amended or 
        repealed by the Declaratory Ruling, Report and Order, and Order 
        described in subsection (a)(1).
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission.
            (2) Rule.--The term ``rule'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 804 of title 5, United States Code.
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